Tesla Model S plaid pattern transforms into Dodge Challenger

The unusual combination of Tesla power and Dodge muscle cars turns out to be more successful than it sounds

What do Tesla fanatics and Dodge enthusiasts have in common? At first glance, it seemed like nothing, except now, they both had something to argue about. Meet the Dodge Model S Plaidcat, or the Tesla Challenger Helldrive? Whatever you call it, this Dodge Challenger Hellcat has swapped its thundering V8 engine for the quiet yet disturbingly powerful electric power of the Tesla Model S Plaid.

This once-unthinkable body-swapping is the brainchild of BoostedBoiz, a YouTube channel with nearly 1.4 million subscribers, and it’s sure to draw ire from both camps.

The unholy alliance of Tesla and muscle

The construction of this Frankenstein began when the BoostedBoiz team purchased a wrecked Tesla Model S Plaid, initially intending to transform it into the ultimate sleeper by putting the powertrain into a Honda Odyssey minivan. However, some geometry-related obstacles, mainly the Odyssey’s proportions and alignment issues, caused them to reconsider the project. The Tesla Model X Plaid provides a more suitable foundation for this build, freeing up the Model S Plaid’s drivetrain for another wild experiment.

BoostedBoiz founder Kyle Wade noticed that the Tesla Model S Plaid’s 116.5-inch (2,959mm) wheelbase matched the Dodge Challenger’s (116.2-inch/2,952mm) almost perfectly, so he came up with a new plan. If that doesn’t sound like a cause for controversy, we don’t know what will. Die-hard Hellcat fans might roll their eyes at this car, unless, of course, Dodge has sold them on the idea of ​​an electric Daytona.

The next step is to buy the Challenger case, which only costs $700. As expected, a lot of cutting was required to fit the Dodge body into the Tesla chassis. The two cars are similar in width, meaning the team had to trim parts of each car’s structure. Fortunately, everything aligned in the end, although the height of the Tesla’s rear shock tower came dangerously close to puncturing the Dodge’s rear glass.

More: 2024 Dodge Charger Shows Its Wild Side in Widebody and Demon Renderings

Once the parts were sorted, BoostedBoiz sourced the missing body panels from Dodge Challenger Hellcats while retaining as much of the original Tesla Model S plaid interior as possible, including the dashboard, joystick steering wheel and front Bucket Seats. The transformation was ultimately completed by the addition of a lightning bolt unit and Hellcat badging, although a widebody kit may be added in the future to spice things up even further.

Technology meets torque: the numbers game

The electric Challenger weighs 4,330 pounds (1,964 kg), 600 pounds lighter than the original Model S Plaid (4,932 pounds / 2,237 kg), and is equipped with a 1,020-horsepower (760 kW / 1,033 hp) three-motor powertrain and An astonishing 1,050 lb-ft (1,423 Nm) of torque. For context, that’s enough to make the resistance band your personal playground. The big question is whether this electric beast can challenge the factory Challenger SRT Demon 170’s quarter-mile record of 8.91 seconds. We will be watching closely.

Numbers aside, there’s no doubt that the Tesla-powered Dodge will turn heads on the streets, especially as onlookers experience its quiet powertrain and impressive acceleration. When you think about it, this switch doesn’t seem all that crazy, especially considering that the replacement for the soon-to-be-discontinued Challenger is the new all-electric Dodge Charger.

Photo: BoostedBoiz / YouTube and Kyle Wade / Instagram